The Legislative Duma of Tomsk Oblast
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LAWS AND DIPLOMACY
Members of parliaments from all around the world commit to promoting international law and peace on the planet. That is one of the conclusions made at the 4th International Parliamentary Forum held on October 1 in Moscow.
Speaker of the Legislative Duma of Tomsk Oblast Oksana Kozlovskaya took part in the Forum. She reminded that the inter-parliamentary dialogue was initiated by Speaker of the Russian State Duma Sergey Naryshkin.
In his speech in front of the lawmakers Sergey Naryshkin gave the following description to the current situation:
“History has seen many times of tension but today is the first time when the path to dialogue is blocked in such an unscrupulous way, bypassing international norms, exerting economic and personal pressure, blackmailing, and manipulating international document flow.”
The Forum gathered participants from 43 countries. In the plenary session they discussed international security in today’s conditions.
“The main subject was the role of parliaments in strengthening the international cooperation and maintaining global peace. The discussion was focused on the role of the lawmakers in those processes. Speeches were made by leaders of parliaments and high-ranking officials, acting and former. Several leaders expressed a positive attitude towards Russia,” commented Oksana Kozlovskaya.
There was criticism, too. Speaking from the rostrum, President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Ilkka Kanerva criticized Russia for the annexation of Crimea and in the same speech proposed an open inter-parliamentary dialogue. Answering Mr. Kanerva’s comments Sergey Naryshkin said that Crimea was indeed annexed by Ukraine in 1991. Crimea gained independence in March 2014 through an open declaration of will of two millions of its citizens. Sergey Naryshkin invited Mr. Kanerva to visit Crimea and talk to the people.
French member of the European Parliament Nadine Morano who this summer initiated a working group For New Dialogue with Russia consisting of MPs from France, Italy, the UK, Germany and Portugal, spoke in support of friendly relations with Russia.
“It’s time to hear and to listen to each other,” Tomsk Oblast Duma Speaker Oksana Kozlovskaya commented on the event.
“Differences can and should be overcome by civilized methods including international forums such as this one. Political discussions, engagement of members of parliaments at all levels should be used to establish and promote principles of humanism on the planet.”
